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AR15.COM
6/25/2009 8:27:27 AM EDT
I decided to make a stab at making my own IWB copied after, well you know the one.
(Disclaimer: I don't know a damn thing about working with leather!)
First it's cut the Kydex.

Tape the chop stix on for clearance of the front sight.

After molding.

After more molding and trimming.

I decided to put in a really thin piece of leather to protect the finish of the gun. Later I cut a new piece with the smooth side toward the gun.

Rivet it down.

Added the belt clips and I'm done. All except for the tweaking which might take a few days.
6/25/2009 9:38:56 AM EDT
[#1]
That's pretty cool.

How did you mold the kydex - did you put your gun in the oven?

6/25/2009 9:45:17 AM EDT
[#2]
Put the Kydex in the toaster oven at 350º for 1½ minutes, take it out and place it over the gun, cover with thick foam, a thick piece of plywood and then sit on it for a couple of minutes. It cools quickly and doesn't melt the foam.
6/25/2009 12:09:07 PM EDT
[#3]
good work
6/25/2009 5:36:24 PM EDT
[#4]
I guess I need to get a toaster oven now,

And some foam,

And some kydex too

Good job to the OP, motivates me to get creative
6/25/2009 5:59:03 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I guess I need to get a toaster oven now,

And some foam,

And some kydex too

Good job to the OP, motivates me to get creative


foam - local foam store or yard sales, approx $2
toaster oven - Goodwill, $6  (still works good enough for toast and other stuff )
Kydex - Interstate Plastics, look em up...
thick plywood - t.v. dinner wood fold up tray from Goodwill, tear it apart for use $2
leather, rivets, belt clips, leather tools - Tandy leather, prices vary
misc. hardware - Lowes
big chunk of granite - local granite store, free
nervous feeling that you're going to screw it up - free
6/25/2009 6:02:49 PM EDT
[#6]
Forgot to add:

leather punch plier type - Harbor Freight, $6~7
leather punch set - Harbor Freight, $8
hammer - you better have one!
beer - see hammer
6/25/2009 8:03:47 PM EDT
[#7]
how hot was the kydex when you pulled it out of the oven ? You need to wear gloves or anything ?
6/25/2009 8:38:56 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
how hot was the kydex when you pulled it out of the oven ? You need to wear gloves or anything ?


Guess I forgot to add that.
Make sure the oven is warmed up to 350º and then put in the Kydex for a minute and a half. YOU WILL NEED GLOVES!
Do not leave in any longer or it starts getting weird.
When you pull it out it will be like hot salt water taffy.
Drape it over the gun EXACTLY where you want it and then cover with the foam, wood and sit on it for a few minutes.
6/26/2009 11:18:13 AM EDT
[#9]
Good initiative!  Looks pretty good from here.  Worn it yet?

I personally don't like those particular kind of IWB holsters, but alot of folks do.  Looks very similar to what alot of them are using.  Good job.

And good on ya for your choice of Kimber!
6/26/2009 1:32:07 PM EDT
[#10]
looks good, I'm going to make one of these soon as well
6/26/2009 3:50:21 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Good initiative!  Looks pretty good from here.  Worn it yet?

I personally don't like those particular kind of IWB holsters, but alot of folks do.  Looks very similar to what alot of them are using.  Good job.

And good on ya for your choice of Kimber!


I've only worn it in the house to see if I got the cant set up right. I have a feeling that might take some time until I hit the sweet spot.
I do need to get a "real" belt.
You're close enough for me to show you in person Vin.
Because it's the first one I've ever made, I'd like as much advice/criticism as possible.
6/26/2009 4:55:03 PM EDT
[#12]
Nice work.
6/27/2009 11:32:32 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Good initiative!  Looks pretty good from here.  Worn it yet?

I personally don't like those particular kind of IWB holsters, but alot of folks do.  Looks very similar to what alot of them are using.  Good job.

And good on ya for your choice of Kimber!


I've only worn it in the house to see if I got the cant set up right. I have a feeling that might take some time until I hit the sweet spot.
I do need to get a "real" belt.
You're close enough for me to show you in person Vin.
Because it's the first one I've ever made, I'd like as much advice/criticism as possible.



Right on, my friend!
6/27/2009 12:31:48 PM EDT
[#14]
There are some great how to threads on kydex work out there. I just bought some leather stuff a few months back and have been "trying" to get back in to leather working. I am kind of wishing I would have put that investment in to some kydex stuff.

One of the things that seems to go unanswered is whether or not it is okay to get the kydex hot and use your polymer framed guns as the actual mold, just as you did with your Kimber.

Here's a good thread...

If you look at too many pages you will have to clear your cookies from time to time because they'll want you to join.

What thickness kydex did you go with .06, .08?

What did you cut and trim it with?
6/27/2009 2:10:31 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
There are some great how to threads on kydex work out there. I just bought some leather stuff a few months back and have been "trying" to get back in to leather working. I am kind of wishing I would have put that investment in to some kydex stuff.

One of the things that seems to go unanswered is whether or not it is okay to get the kydex hot and use your polymer framed guns as the actual mold, just as you did with your Kimber. I don't know the answer for that one. Kimbers & Colt's are easy.

[url=http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2602]Here's a good thread...[/url] That's actually where I got my idea from.


What thickness kydex did you go with .06, .08?  .06

What did you cut and trim it with? Before heating, I cut it with a box knife. After molding, I used heavy scissors and did the trimming with a dremel
 

Remember I said I spent almost two months collecting all the stuff I needed before I even thought about starting this project. A lot of the stuff I picked up at yard sales or the Goodwill. I even scored on a quarter shoulder 8~9oz piece of leather at one yard sale for $5ºº! That alone is worth almost $75ºº.
The first holster you make will not be as cheap as buying one from kholster ($45 shipped) but I came damn close the that figure. Any that I make from now on will only cost me the price of buying new belt clips. I've already got everything else.
6/29/2009 5:16:43 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
There are some great how to threads on kydex work out there. I just bought some leather stuff a few months back and have been "trying" to get back in to leather working. I am kind of wishing I would have put that investment in to some kydex stuff.

One of the things that seems to go unanswered is whether or not it is okay to get the kydex hot and use your polymer framed guns as the actual mold, just as you did with your Kimber.

Here's a good thread...

If you look at too many pages you will have to clear your cookies from time to time because they'll want you to join.

What thickness kydex did you go with .06, .08?

What did you cut and trim it with?


I use .093 kydex for my holsters.  on some clips I use .125